The Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Tan, intercepted Guo Jia's...

Chapter 95 Sleeping Beauty

The bumpy ride on the road, coupled with the fall from the car, caused Ms. Zou to fall.

Already on the verge of death, she breathed her last before Yuan Tan could even get close.

Yuan Tan secretly sighed in regret.

He ordered that Zou's body be placed in a side tent next to the central command tent.

Then they asked a farmer's wife from a nearby village to wipe the dirt off her face with warm water.

The peasant woman had rough hands, but she moved carefully.

They didn't dare look at the important figure standing at the entrance of the tent.

Yuan Tan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the pale face on the bed.

In the candlelight, Zou's face had an almost transparent beauty; death had taken away her sickly appearance, but instead restored some of the radiance she had in life.

He recalled how Cao Cao had lost many soldiers and generals for this woman in history, and how Zhang Xiu was now willing to defend a lonely city to the death for her.

"What a pity."

He said in a low voice.

The curtain was lifted, and Jia Xu walked in silently.

The strategist's gaze lingered on Zou's face for a moment before shifting to Yuan Tan.

He bowed, his voice steady:

"My lord, the dead cannot be brought back to life. However, Zhang Xiu is still in Liyang. He is a man of deep feelings; if he knew of his aunt..."

"I know."

Yuan Tan interrupted him, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Of course he knew. A living Zou Shi might be able to persuade Zhang Xiu to surrender, but a dead Zou Shi... that would be completely meaningless.

Jia Xu remained silent for a moment, then suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down.

This action caused the two old women's hands to tremble, and water spilled from the basin.

Yuan Tan raised an eyebrow. Jia Xu never knelt before people easily. What's wrong with him this time?

"What does Mr. Wenhe mean by this?"

"Xu, I have a request that may be difficult for you."

Jia Xu's voice remained steady.

"Madam Zou led a life of wandering, and regarding the events in Wancheng, Xu... also made mistakes. Now that she is gone, could we... grant her some dignity?"

"Decent?"

"Cleanse the body, change clothes, and prepare it for burial with proper rites. Return the remains to Zhang Xiu."

Jia Xu raised his head, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes.

"In this way, even if Zhang Xiu does not surrender, he will not dare to harbor resentment. When the people of the world hear of this, they will know that our lord is benevolent and kind."

Yuan Tan stared at him.

It's such a simple matter, just say it directly, why kneel down?

But it doesn't matter.

Yuan Tan suddenly smiled, bent down, and personally helped Jia Xu up:

"Why must you do this, sir? Even if you hadn't said it, I had the same intention. Death is a serious matter, and we should naturally return the body with dignity."

He turned to the old woman and said:

"Wash yourself thoroughly and change into clean clothes. I'll go fetch some spices."

Stepping out of the tent, a night breeze blew, and the trace of pity on Yuan Tan's face vanished instantly.

He beckoned to his personal guards: "Go, invite General Zilong here."

When Zhao Yun arrived, Yuan Tan was standing in the open space outside the tent, looking up at the sky.

"My lord."

"Zilong is here." Yuan Tan didn't turn around. "What's the situation with Zhang Xiu?"

"He remains locked up inside. But the message shot in this morning was picked up by the guards on the city wall and should have been delivered to him by now."

"Hmm." Yuan Tan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Go to Junyi's army and pass on a message for me."

"Please give me your instructions."

"Tell him,"

Yuan Tan turned around, the moonlight illuminating half of his face, while the other half remained in shadow.

"Be careful of Zhang Xiu's counterattack. Especially... after receiving his aunt's body."

Zhao Yun was taken aback.

This statement is nonsensical. If the body is returned, Zhang Xiu will surely show goodwill. Why would he retaliate?

But he didn't ask, he simply cupped his hands and said, "I understand."

"Go ahead. Tell it quietly, and don't let a third person hear."

Zhao Yun accepted the order and left.

As the sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, a smile gradually spread across Yuan Tan's face.

He was as happy as a 150-pound child.

He turned and went back to the side tent.

The two elderly women had already dressed Zou in a plain white undergarment and were combing her disheveled long hair.

Upon seeing him enter, she hurriedly knelt down.

"Go down," Yuan Tan waved his hand. "I brought the spices. Go and boil some hot water; we'll need it for cleansing later."

The old woman felt as if she had been granted a pardon and hurriedly left.

The curtains fell.

Now, only his body and the bed remain in the tent.

Yuan Tan walked to the bedside and looked down at Zou Shi.

The candlelight cast trembling shadows on her face, and her long eyelashes left two shallow curves under her eyelids, as if she were just asleep.

He reached out, his fingertips hovering an inch above her cheek, and stopped.

Then it slowly moved down, landing on the tie of her dress.

With a flick of the finger, the tie came undone.

The plain white inner garment slid open to the sides, revealing the pale skin underneath, and the lotus root-colored bodice beneath.

Ms. Zou was very thin; the outline of her collarbone was clearly visible, but further down...

Yuan Tan's hand stopped at the edge of the bodice.

He stared at the curve of the fabric covering the area, his breathing becoming heavier without him realizing it.

The woman Cao Cao desired.

The woman Zhang Xiu protected with his life.

Now I lie here, at his mercy.

He suddenly laughed.

He took out a vermilion brush from his pocket and dipped it in ink from a porcelain bottle.

The ink is top-quality pine soot ink, as black as night.

The pen tip hovered above Zou's heart.

Yuan Tan tilted his head and thought for a moment, conceiving a painting.

The first stroke landed, and the ink spread across the pale skin, forming a rounded outline.

He painted very carefully, outlining the edges with fullness and richness, and even added cinnabar to create a halo effect.

Then comes the second stroke, symmetrical, on the other side.

Two full patterns bloomed on Zou's chest, covering all the secrets hidden by the bodice.

Against the backdrop of fair skin, the black was glaringly dark, and the red was eerily red.

Yuan Tan stepped back two paces to admire his own work.

Under the candlelight, the ink was still wet, gleaming with a damp sheen.

The position and shape of the pattern, even the texture created by the cinnabar smudge, all seemed to deliberately imitate the most private characteristics of women.

But because it was painted on the body with ink, it seemed somewhat eerie.

He watched for a long time, until he heard an old woman cautiously asking from outside the tent:

"General, the hot water is ready..."

"Come in."

Yuan Tan said calmly, and casually pulled over a thin quilt to cover Zou's body.

The old women came in carrying basins of water and cloths.

Yuan Tan stood aside, watching them carefully cleanse Zou Shi.

The rising steam from the hot water blurred Zou's face.

"Be careful," he suddenly said, his voice trembling slightly. "Madam Zou...her life has been difficult. Let her leave this world with a peaceful heart."

The old women's hands trembled, and their eyes reddened.

They had never met such a loyal and righteous person.

After cleansing herself, she changed her clothes, combed her hair, and applied lipstick.

The old women were very skillful; Zou lay there as if she were simply sleeping peacefully, except that her face was too pale.

"Alright." Yuan Tan waved his hand. "Use my carriage to send her back to Liyang. Tell the garrison that she is returning General Zhang's aunt. Don't say anything else, just take her inside and leave."

"That...coffin..."

"No need for a coffin," Yuan Tan smiled. "Just send him off like this. General Zhang will understand my intentions."

……

At midnight, on the city wall of Liyang.

Zhang Xiu's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the carriage slowly heading towards the city gate.

The carriage had only one old coachman and a white flag stuck on the shaft.

The city gate opened a crack.

The carriage drove in, and a moment later, it drove out again, heading back empty.

Zhang Xiu walked down the city wall step by step.

Inside the city gate, the carriage stood quietly, its curtains drawn low.

His hands were trembling.

Take a deep breath and lift the curtain.

Ms. Zou lay peacefully on the soft cushions inside the car, her clothes neat and tidy, even her hair was combed meticulously.

She looked as if she were asleep, just waiting for someone to gently wake her up.